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Receive $1,000 Towards Your APA Designation

As part of an ongoing effort to enhance the education of pension administrators, NIPA and PenChecks are pleased to offer an annual scholarship program for NIPA’s Accredited Pension Administrator (APA) designation program.

“Not only is the PenChecks NIPA Accredited Pension Administrator Designation Scholarship a great way to support and continue to grow pension professionals, it is a terrific way to motivate, recognize and reward applicants who are committed to growing and improving our industry.”- Jordan Cross, Vice President and Principal, CrossPlans

"We are so thrilled for Iwona Wilt that she has been awarded the PenChecks NIPA APA Designation Scholarship! This is such a worthwhile investment in her future and most appreciated! Having enjoyed working as a TPA for more than four decades, I speak from experience that it is a fulfilling and rewarding career and I believe that Iwona will be as successful in her endeavors. Thank you for giving her this opportunity to further her education." - Elizabeth Schimoler, APA, ERPA, President of Retirement Plan Resources, Inc.

PenChecks NIPA APA Designation Scholarship Dates

May/June 2018 Testing Window

February 28, 2018 - Deadline extendedfor scholarship applications to be submitted to NIPA.

March 2018 - Scholarship recipients will be selected and all applicants will be notified of results.

April 30, 2018 - Deadline for recipients to enroll in their first APA exam.

Scholarship Requirements

In order to be eligible, applicants must work for a firm where there is at least one person who is a current NIPA member. Applicants must also be employed in the United States.

The APA designation must be earned within three years from the successful completion of the first exam. Exams passed more than three years prior to the successful completion of your last exam will expire and must be re-taken. The scholarship will not cover the cost to re-take exams after the three year period.

Any individual who fails an exam may re-take the exam for a fee of $150. If an individual registers for a testing window and decides to defer their exam to the next testing window, there will also be a fee of $150. This fee only applies for two testing windows from the date of the original testing window scheduled.

Individuals who have the ERPA and/or QPA designation are not eligible for the scholarship as they are able to obtain their APA designation by simply joining NIPA as an Executive or Business Owner Member.

All applicants must be new students and may not have previously enrolled or started taking any of their APA exams.

You must complete the application form below in its entirety to be considered, including the required letter of recommendation .If any information is determined to be false, the application will be denied.

What the Scholarship Provides

The Scholarship will award recipients $1,000 each to take all four (4) APA exams.

Nine (9) scholarship recipients will be chosen annually over the course of all three testing windows (May/June, August and November/December).

The scholarship will only cover the APA exam registration costs. If an individual would like to purchase additional study materials (e.g. the practice exams or online textbooks), they will be responsible for the costs.

Once a scholarship recipient successfully completes all four (4) APA exams, PenChecks will cover the NIPA Business Owner or Executive member fee for the first year of membership - a value of $445 - $595!

Name of colleague who is a current NIPA member: *In order to be eligible for the PenChecks NIPA APA Designation Scholarship, there must be an individual from the firm you work for that is a current NIPA member.

Please explain how you feel the APA designation will help you in your career in 250 - 500 words. *

Please explain why you feel you should receive the scholarship in 250 - 500 words. *

Brief recommendation from a supervisor *Please provide a brief recommendation from a supervisor that explains why you should be selected as the recipient of the scholarship based on your current performance and potential performance. Please click on the "Choose File" button to upload the brief recommendation from a supervisor.

Terms of Agreement

In order for your application to be submitted and consider, you must agree to the below terms of agreement.

I agree to be contacted. *By submitting this application, I understand that I may be contacted by the individuals selecting the recipients if they have any questions or need any additional information.

I agreeI do not agree

I agree to be part of promotions or publicity about the scholarship if selected as a recipient. *By submitting this application, I agree that if I am selected as a scholarship recipient, I understand that my name might be part of any of NIPA and PenChecks promotions or publicity about the scholarship, and that I may be contacted for comments on the APA Designation program and/or the scholarship.